Safety cap for vials

ABSTRACT

A vial with an open mouth surrounded by an annular flange is engageable by a lid whose rim is formed with an inner annular shoulder underlying that flange for positive interlocking to seal the vial. The flange has a gap, extending over an arc of roughly 10*, and is provided immediately below that gap with an external ramp coacting with a similar internal ramp on the shoulder of the cap when the latter is rotated into a predetermined angular position relative to the vial. In that position, the portion of the rim confronting the gap is cammed outwardly by the coacting ramps and may be lifted to disengage the cap from the vial whose gap clears the ramp of the cap rim. Complementary indexing formations on the two ramps may snap into engagement in the uncapping position to indicate the correct alignment of the internal ramp with the gap.

United States Patent I 1 Jones 1 3,710,971 1 Jan. 16,1973

[54] SAFETY CAP FOR VIALS [75] inventor: Keith L. Jones, London 74, Ontario,

Canada [22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 196,366

[52] US. Cl ..215/9, 215/41, 215/46 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 55/02 [58] Field of Search ..215/9, 46 R, 41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,339,773 9/1967 Stull ..215/46 R 3,430,798 3/1969 Goyet et a]. ..215/46 R Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Alt0rneyKarl F. Ross [57] ABSTRACT A vial with an open mouth surrounded by an annular flange is engageable by a lid whose rim is formed with an inner annular shoulder underlying that flange for positive interlocking to seal the vial. The flange has a gap, extending over an arc of roughly 10, and is provided immediately below that gap with an external ramp coacting with a similar internal ramp on the shoulder of the cap when the latter is rotated into a predetermined angular position relative to the vial. In that position, the portion of the rim confronting the gap is cammed outwardly by the coacting ramps and may be lifted to disengage the cap from the vial whose gap clears the ramp of the cap rim. Complementary indexing formations on the two ramps may snap into engagement in the uncapping position to indicate the correct alignment of the internal ramp with the gap.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing'Figures My present invention relates to a safety cap for vials and other containers having an upstanding neck with an open mouth which is to be tightly closed by the application of the cap thereto.

Such caps generally have a depending wall portion forming a circular rim which embraces the neck-forming wall portion of the container. If the ring of the cap consists of resilently deformable material (e.g., polyethylene) it can be slightly distended in the closing operation so that an inner annular shoulder at the lower edge of the rim engages under an outer annular bead surrounding the container mouth, thereby locking the cap in position. The assembly and separation of such containers and caps is laborious and, if performed repeatedly, may fatigue the elastic rim so that the closure becomes less secure.

The general object of my present invention is to provide an improved container closure requiring less effort in its handling and reducing the strain exerted upon the interfitting parts during assembly and disassembly.

A more specific object is to provide a closure of this type which requires only a minor modification of conventional vials in order to fit them for co-operation with a specially designed safety cap readily emplaceable thereon. a These objects are realized, pursuant to my invention, by providing one of the two flanges-defining the aforementioned outer bead and inner shoulder, preferably the outer flange of the container neck, with a peripheral gap extending over a small arc, advantageously not more than about the two flanged wall portions carry a pair of coacting ramps confronting each other in a predetermined relative angular position (referred to hereinafter as the uncapping position) of the container and its cap, the first of these ramps being in line with the gap of the associated flange whereas the second ramp is carried on the opposite flange. In the uncapping position the two ramps exert a radial camming affect upon the concentric wall portions which are thereby relatively deformed to enable disengagement of the flanges whereupon the cap may be lifted off the container neck, the gap on one flange clearing the ramps on the other flange for such removal. To reassemble the container and-its cap, the

reverse procedure is followed whereupon the two elements are positively interlocked after being rotated out of the uncapping position. This arrangement will work as long as at least one of the two flanged wall portions is resiliently deformable. If both'materials are at least moderately elastic, the rim of thecap deforms outwardly whereas the container neck deforms inwardly, though not necessarily in the same degree;-in this case, each of the two elements undergoes only a reduced amount of deformation so that the danger of fatiguing is largely avoided. Also, since the region of deformation is predetermined, the cap and/or the container neck could be specially reinforced in that region to absorb the stresses.

In order to facilitate the alignment of the two ramps preparatorily to the uncapping of the container, the cap and the container neck may be provided with external markings which must register with each other before the cap is lifted off. A more precise establishment of the uncapping position is assured, however, by providing the two ramps with complementary indexing formations engaging each other upon proper alignment.

If desired, the number of gaps in one of the flanges and the number of associated ramps aligned therewith may be increased to permit assembly and disassembly in, say, a pair of diametrically opposite uncapping posi- .tions.

The above and other features of my invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the ac-- companying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is anelevational view, partly in section, of the upper part of a vial enclosed by a cap in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line H- II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the parts relatively rotated into an uncapping position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line lV-IV of FIG. 3.

The drawing shows a neck portion 15 of a container 10, such as a vial, terminating at the top in an outer peripheral flange 11 which constitutes an external bead and surrounds the container mouth over an art of approximately 350. The bead is interrupted by a gap 12 aligned with a ramp 13 which is formed rigid with the container wall immediately below the level of bead 1 1. Ramp 13 bears upon an annular shoulder 21 formed as an inner flange on the rim 25 of an associated cap 20 closing the container mouth. Flange 21 is integral with another ramp 23 which lies at the level of ramp 13 but is normally offset therefrom, in a position of closure, as

seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Shoulders 11 and 21 have slightly beveled bottom and top surfaces 11a and 21a, respectively, by which they interlockingly engage each other. 1

In the illustrated embodiment, both elements 10 and 20 consist of plasticmaterial of at least limited elastic deformability, e.g., a polycarbonate in the case of the vial l0 and polyvinyl chloride in the case of the cap 20.

The two ramps 13 and 23 are formed with beveled lateral edges 13a, 23a servingto cam them radially out of each others way when the cap 20 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, i.e., counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3,- into the angular position of FIG. 3 in which the two ramps confront each other. In that position, a small vertical ridge 24 on ramp 23 snaps into a shallow groove 14 on ramp 13 as an indication of the correct alignment of ramp 23 with gap 12. Owing to the aforedescribed camming action, the peripheral wall portions 15 and 25 are spread apart in the region of the confronting ramps 13 and 23, as best seen in FIG. 4, whereby the head 11 clears the shoulder 21 in the vicinity of the gap 12 which is flanked by a pair of outwardly flared edges 12a, 12b of that bead. It will be noted that the combined radial depth of ramps 13 and 23 substantially equals that of shoulder 11. Thus, with 20, the upper edge 1 lb of shoulder ll has been beveled as shown. The cap may now be pressed home to restore the position of FIGS. 3 and 4 whereupon the two parts may be relatively rotated,if nec'essaryfor angular offsetting of the ramps 13 and 23, e.g., into the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

For greater stability the closed top of the cap 20 is shown provided on its underside with an annular rib 27 bearing from within against the upstanding wall portion 15 of the container when the vial is capped.

If the cap is sufficiently deformable, it can also be used to close a rigid container neck, such as that of a glass bottle.

It will be apparent that the arrangement described and illustrated may be reversed, with formation of a gap in flange 21 rather than flange 1 1 and with elevation of the two ramps to the level of the latter flange. In the preferred embodimenghowever, the camming action of the ramps exerts greater leverage and the continuity of the inner flange 21 of rim 25 affords a more dependable seal.

l have found that the aforementioned maximum arc of about 10 for the peripheral gap 12, while not critical, permits relatively easy separation.v and reassembly while preserving a large area of interlocking engagement for the vial and its gap.

Tab 26 and cap 20 also serves as a reinforcement in the region of maximum stress exerted upon the rim 25 during uncapping.

I claim:

1. In combination, a container with an upstanding peripheral wall portion defining an open mouth,.and a cap for said container with a depending peripheral wall portion defining a rim capable of embracing said mouth, at least one of said wall portions being elastically deformable; said upstanding wall portion being formed with an outer annular flange extending over at least a major part of the periphery of said mouth and bead from below upon interengagement of said container and said cap; one of said wall portions having at 7 least one peripheral gap in its flange and a first ramp I well portion upon interengagement of said container.

constituting an external bead; said depending wall poraligned with said gap on the level of the other flange; the other of said wall portions being provided with a second ramp on said other flange confronting said first ramp in a predetermined relative angular position of said container and said cap with exertion of a radial camming effect relatively deforming said wall portions for enabling disengagement of said flanges and lifting of said cap off said container, said gap clearing said second ramp in said angular position.

2. The combination defined inclaim 1 wherein said ramps are provided with coacting indexing formations yieldably engaging each other in said angular position.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said bead has a beveled underside and said shoulder has a beveled top side facilitating relative disengagement in said angular position.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said cap has a closed top provided on its underside with an annular rib bearing from within against said upstanding andsaidcap.

5. The combination defined lll claim 1 wherein said gap extends over an arc substantially not greater than 10. 7 v 6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said ramps are provided with beveled edges cammingly engaging each other upon rotation into said angular position.

7. The combination defined inclaim 1 wherein said bead is provided with said gap, said first ramp being 

1. In combination, a container with an upstanding peripheral wall portion defining an open mouth, and a cap for said container with a depending peripheral wall portion defining a rim capable of embracing said mouth, at least one of said wall portions being elastically deformable; said upstanding wall portion being formed with an outer annular flange extending over at least a major part of the periphery of said mouth and constituting an external bead; said depending wall portion being formed with an inner annular flange extending over at least a major part of the periphery of said cap and constituting a shoulder positively gripping said bead from below upon interengagement of said container and said cap; one of said wall portions having at least one peripheral gap in its flange and a first ramp aligned with said gap on the level of the other flange; the other of said wall portions being provided with a second ramp on said other flange confronting said first ramp in a predetermined relative angular position of said container and said cap with exertion of a radial camming effect relatively deforming said wall portions for enabling disengagement of said flanges and lifting of said cap off said container, said gap clearing said second ramp in said angular position.
 2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said ramps are provided with coacting indexing formations yieldably engaging each other in said angular position.
 3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said bead has a beveled underside and said shoulder has a beveled top side facilitating relative disengagement in said angular position.
 4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said cap has a closed top provided on its underside with an annular rib bearing from within against said upstanding well portion upon interengagement of said container and said cap.
 5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said gap extends over an arc substantially not greater than 10*.
 6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said ramps are provided with beveled edges cammingly engaging each other upon rotation into said angular position.
 7. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said bead is provided with said gap, said first ramp being present on said container.
 8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said bead has outwardly flared edges flanking said gap.
 9. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said rim is reinforced in the region of said second ramp.
 10. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the combined radial depth of said ramps substantiAlly equals that of said bead. 